Safari Tour at Kumana National Park- Your best tropical dream!

Kumana National Park Safari

With natural beauty, ancient value and modern adventures, Sri Lanka is a finest destination in South Asia. Travelers can easily reach the island from any part of the world as it locates in the middle of the Indian Ocean and it is well known as Pearl of the Indian Ocean. 

If you are a lover of safari tours, there are many places to visit in Sri Lanka. Yala National park, Wilpaththu, Udawalawa and Kumana are some of them. 

The Background Story

Kumana National Park is the most popular bird sanctuary in Sri Lanka and it is located in southeast coastal line in Sri Lanka. Actually, it is a part of Yala National park and earlier it was known as Yala East National Park.

The park has an ancient historical value also that it becomes a part of an ancient civilization belonged to 3rd century BC. When we consider the most recent history, it was closed from 1985 to 2003 due to the civil war in Sri Lanka. Not only was that but the park affected by Tsunami also in December 2004

Things to do

As a huge national park and there are plenty of wilderness and natural beauty, Safari tour at Kumana National park is the ideal option to do. However, you may wonder what is the best season to visit there? As there is no hard a strict rule to visit that this is the best month, you should be careful on the rainy season. It will disturb your entertainment and you may miss the beauty of wildlife. Therefore February to July is the best time to visit. From April to July you can watch many species of birds that they are nesting and breeding during this period. 

There is a private safari tour dedicated to you or your group where will be allocating a comfortable vehicle depending on the size of the group. Accordingly, you can enjoy Wildlife safari, Full day safari, Private safari or a Jeep safari. You can decide the time of your safari whether it is morning or afternoon depending on what types of animals and birds you need to watch.

Only thing you should do is book your tour in advance. It is better to accompanied by a guide also, because there are several obstacles in the park. More tricky roads may confuse you and without the knowledge and experience of them, you may not spot the birds and animals as you wish. 

You can see birds like pintail snipes waterfowl and wading birds, storks, moorhens, ducks, and ibis. During the nesting season, they migrate from all over the world. Therefore bird watching is a major activity. At the same time, this is a home for turtle, otters, crocodiles, elephants, wild boars, peacocks and many more species.

There are few camping sites are also available in the park. 

During your visit to this place always be quiet and patient to enjoy the maximum and for the safety, because you are entering a world of wildness. And do not forget your camera.  

Kumana National Park Safari with Mahaweli Tours & Holidays

Possible Starting / Pick-up Locations:
Arugambay, Ella, Thissamaharama, Udawalawa or any other nearby location. (You can let us know your exact location for us to check and confirm the possibility)

Duration: Safari Tour will take around 3 ½ on average.

Tour Type: A private tour. Vehicle and the Guide / Chauffer guide are dedicated to you / your group. Safari tour will be done by an off road vehicle and traveling to the starting point and back will be done by Comfortable Car / Van / Mini coach.

.

.

Read More:

Ella City Tour with Mahaweli Tours & Holidays

(Kumana National Park Cover Image Credit: Surf Ali on Instagram)

Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park is another famous tourist destination in Sri Lanka. The place is widely popular due to its largest elephant gathering. It belongs to the Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province. Minneriya National Park is the home to many wild animals. This covers 8889.4 ha.

Location

Minneriya National Park is situated 182km away from Colombo city. It needs almost 4 hours to reach the capital. The distance from Kandy is about 105km. It will take around 3 hours to reach this from there. Google Maps will help you find the location. Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa are some of the most visited tourist destinations on the island. Those locations are not far from this national park. Therefore, many of them don’t miss this place to visit.

History

Minneriya Tank, or what the locals call “Minneriya Wewa,” is an ancient construction. It was made by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD. The purpose of the tank was to supply essential water for paddy cultivation. The surrounding forest was the main water source for the tank. Apart from that, the Amban River and Elahera Canal bring water to the Minneriya Tank.

The tank and its surrounding forest were declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. It was further declared as a national park in 1997/08/12. The aim of the declaration was to protect the tank and wildlife of the area.

Climate

The Minneriya National Park and surrounding area receive an average annual rainfall of 1000–1500 mm. The average annual temperature is around 25–30 °C. The North-Eastern Monsoon is the main rainfall source and it is active from October until February. There is a clear dry season from May to September.

Wildlife

Minneriya National Park is home to 24 mammal species, 1600 bird species, 9 amphibian species, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species, and 75 butterfly species.

Some of the birds that you can watch here are the Sri Lankan Junglefowl, Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, and brown-capped babbier. It is a paradise for both resident and migrant birds. Along with them, you can identify the Sri Lankan Leopard, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Buffalo and two types of endemic monkeys.

Elephants

Minneriya is best known for its largest elephant gatherings. Group of 150 – 300 wild elephants can identify together in the dry seasons. Elephants in Matale, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee disticts migrate to Minneriya National Park in the dry season. They gather around the Minneriya Tank because of the food and water. Therefore, May to September time period consider as the best time to visit this sanctuary.

There are many Safari service providers around this national park. So, you can pick one of them to plan your wildlife tour. As well as you, there are many hotels and lodges for tourists in Dambulla, Sigiriya, Habarana and Girithale areas. This is the National Park that you should visit if you love Sri Lankan Elephants and widlife.

Read more from our Website:

Day Tour at Polonnaruwa Ancient City

( Cover Image Credit: Stephen Blaxhall )

Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya

Victoria Park Nuwara Eliya

Victoria Park is a popular place to visit in Nuwara Eliya. It is a public park that is situated near the Nuwara Eliya post office. The park is open all year and is managed by the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council.

Queen Victoria Park got this name in 1897 to commemorate the 60th jubilee of Queen Victoria. Initially, this was a research field for Hakgala Botanical Garden. Oak was the first plant established here. The entire park covers 27 ha (27 acres). Annually, more than 100,000 visitors come to Victoria Park. This also includes 4,000–5,000 foreign visitors.

Victoria Park is a beautiful place with many plants, flowers, and birds. The ever-green atmosphere is superb for anyone to free their minds. This is considered a rich place for birds, which includes the Kashmir Flycatcher and Indian Pitta. There you can see different types of flowers that multiply the beauty of the park. The months of March, April, August, and September are the flower-booming seasons in Nuwara Eliya.

There is a kids’ play area and train tours for adults. It is open from 7 am to 7 pm every day. Visitors should buy tickets to enter. Ideal place for a family trip. Nanu Oya flows through the park, which has generated a few small lakes.

Nuwara Eliya is a fabulous place for tourists. The cold climate attracts tourists, and that has given the name of ‘Little England in Sri Lanka” to Nuwara Eliya. The annual rainfall is around 2500mm and the annual temperature is around 15’C. Tea is the major crop in this area, and the majority of the people are Tamil.

Other than Victoria Park, Single Tree Hills, Lovers Leap Waterfall, Horton Plains, Gregory Park, and Hakgala Botanical Garden are some of the other places to visit in the Nuwara Eliya region.

You can plan your Nuwara Eliya City Tour with Mahaweli Tours & Holidays. Just call: 0777 111 553 or drop a mail to: info@mahaweli.lk

Kitesurfing in Sri Lanka

Kitesurfing in Sri Lanka

Situated in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is considered one of the most visited tourist places in the world for its many characteristics. Here we talk about Sri Lanka’s best kitesurfing spots. Kitesurfing is for anyone who is daring. If you are adrenaline obsessed, kitesurfing is for you to get your hype in control. Sri Lanka is one of the best kitesurfing destinations in the world and there are specific places where kitesurfing is taught, guided, and shown. Amongst the many adventurous sports in Sri Lanka, I believe kitesurfing tops the chart. It is a sport that really gives you an adrenaline rush while giving you a calming sensation from the breeze at the same time.

There are many places in Sri Lanka where this activity is conducted. Our guides will take you to one of these locations when and if you need to participate in this activity. Our guides are thorough with local knowledge, about weather and about the sport as well. If you require language specific guides, it can be arranged upon special request.

Kitesurf? Let’s see what it is

This activity in layman’s language is, tying you to a huge kite and being pulled on a surfboard with the help of the wind. This is the simplest explanation of this activity which sounds quite cool and exciting. But this aquatic sport requires training. Generally in Sri Lanka, there are short trainings provided to amateurs who would like to participate. If you are an expert, welcome to Sri Lanka! But nothing to worry, with our excellent trainers and instructors, usually everyone successfully surfs like a pro!

Where to go…

Best kitesurfing spots in the country

Kalpitiya is said to be the most famous and visited place for kitesurfing in Sri Lanka. There are a number of kitesurfing schools and spots in Kalpitiya. It is best if you book it in advance and make sure your sessions are booked. May to September is the ideal season for this activity. The basic idea is the weather needs to be a bit windy. Some go in October if it is windy. It is required to be able to swim because it involves being on a surfboard in the sea. A short training period of about fifteen hours is required. Mannar is another famous spot for kitesurfing. This city also has many kitesurfing areas with instructors.

There are shops where you can get one and repairing stores are available too. All kite lessons follow International Kiteboarding Methodology. It is equally loved and participated by both locals and foreigners.

For a good hype!

It is indeed an exhilarating sport where your nerves are put to test. It is an international aquatic sport and to be one of the top-notch places in the world to practice it is a privilege. Therefore, do not hesitate, we have gotten the best of the bests and they will instruct you with international standards to fly over a surfboard by the wind. Come down to Sri Lanka if you eagerly wait to experience in kitesurfing.

 

Read more about our tours;

Day Tour at Anuradhapura Ancient City

Day Tour at Polonnaruwa Ancient City

 

( Image Source & Credit goes to: Lusie Travels Sri Lanka Facebook Page) 

 

 

 

 

 

Pettigala Mountain Hike in Kandy

Pettigala Mountain Hike in Kandy

Pettigala Mountain is a famous travel destination around Kandy City. It has been widely popular among local and international travelers recently. This single little mountain is situated in the Teldeniya area, about 20km away from Kandy. The beautiful view of the Victoria Reservoir and the amazing panoramic view have attracted many tourists here.

Pettigala Mountain consists of 760m of elevation from sea level. You first need to come to Digana town, which is 15km away from Kandy. Then you need to follow the Senarathwela-Digana road to reach the final location. That will all take one hour from Kandy City. Before reaching the mountain, you will enter the Bamabaragala Temple.

Bambaragala Temple is a culturally and historically valuable place in the Kandy area. History says that the area consists of 79 caves. These caves were built in 2-3 centuries A.C. Bambaragala Old Temple was modified in the 18th century by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe. You can see some old paintings in this old temple. But you will not be allowed to take photographs of them.

The footpath to Pettigala Mountain starts from the Bambaragala Old Temple. The trek is not very hard and it’s through a forest with moderate difficulty. Some parts are much more difficult to cross because of their steep slopes. You will pass two caves during the trek; they are called “Situwam Lena’ and ‘Indrasala Guhawa’. One hour of trekking will carry you to the summit of Pettigala Mountain.

The top of the mountain consists of manabushes and big stones. There is no water source at the top. You have a large area to walk in and that will give you a few viewpoints. These viewpoints will provide different views of the surrounded areas. The large stone that is situated at the edge of the mountain is actually called “Pettigala’. It’s the best viewpoint of the mountain. You can sit there and watch a clear picture of Victoria Reservior. As well, you can see some prominent peaks of the Knuckles Massif.

The view from the top is absolutely amazing and beautiful. From here, you can observe a lot of areas of the Kandy district. Evenings are the best time to visit Pettigala Mountain, and that will generate some amazing photographs of the sunset.

(Cover Photo Credit: SL Traveler )

Nilaveli Beach in Trincomalee

Nilaveli Beach in Sri Lanka

Nilaveli Beach is another popular and beautiful coastal area in Sri Lanka. It is situated in Nilaveli village in the Trincomalee District of Eastern Province. The distance from Tricomalee to Nilaveli is 16km. It takes around 25 minutes to reach there. The distance from Colombo to Nilaveli Beach is 280km.

Trincomalee is a major city in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. It is very popular due to its natural harbour. The majority of the people in this area are Tamil. You need to turn your vehicle on to Pulmoddai road in Tincomalee to reach the Nilaveli beach. Google Maps will direct you to the final location.

Nilaveli is a beach with white sands and moderate waves. It is much wider than other beaches in Sri Lanka. A suitable place for surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat tours, and sunbathing. That has attracted many local and international tourists to the place. But it is less crowded than the other beaches in the south of Sri Lanka.

From the beach, you can see an island around 2 kilometers away. It is called ‘Pigeon Island National Park” and is a rich place for bio-diversity. It is further considered as one of the two marine national parks in the region. A boat safari to Pigeon Island is another awesome activity that you can experience in Nilaveli. You can see many species of plants, different fish types, and corals around the island.

October–February is the rainy season in the Eastern Province. Average annual rainfall is around 1250mm–1500mm, and the average annual temperature is around 27°C–34°C. Wind speeds are much higher in the June and December months.

There are a few vendors, hotels, and restaurants around Nilaveli Beach. A hot and humid climate is ideal for enjoying a fresh coconut. So, don’t forget to visit this beach if you love to travel in eastern Sri Lanka.

Read More:

Beautiful Beaches of Sri Lanka

(Cover Image Credit: Vithurshan Photography from Facebook)

Sembuwatta Lake in Matale

Sembuwatta Lake in Matale

Sembuwatta Lake is one of the must-visit travel destinations in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. It is situated near Elkaduwa, a small town in the Ukuwela divisional secteriant area. The distance from Kandy to Sembuwatta is 31 km, and from Matale it is 22 km. The place has become widely popular among local and international travelers in the last decade.

There are two major routes to reach Sembuwatta. first route from Kandy via Wattegama. The next route is from Matale via Ukuwela. You can easily find the location with Google Maps. Since its opening in 2005, the area has been managed by Elkaduwa Plantation Company. You should buy a ticket to enter the location.

Sembuwatta Lake and its surroundings are absolutely beautiful and nice to see. The cold breeze will bring amazing feelings to anyone. There is a forest near the lake, and it’s called “Campbell Lane Forest.” The majority of the forest is pine trees. You can also see tea estates in the area. The elevation of the area is 1072m. So, you will feel the cold weather. The average annual temperature is around 20’C and the average annual rainfall in the area is around 2000 mm.

Sembuwatta Lake was built in 1949. It was a polo ground in the British Era of Sri Lanka. Later, it became a lake to generate essential electricity for the tea factory. The lake has been made up with natural water streams. It is 9–12 m deep and not allowed for bathing. Anyhow, it is open for many water activities. There is another small pool near the main lake for bathing activities. So, you can bathe there.

Summer huts are available for those who would like to spend the night in Sembuwatta. are also available for those who don’t like to stay in them. But you need to get permission to do that. So, we request that you visit this place if you love to travel in central Sri Lanka.

Read More:

Hakgala Botanical Garden

(Sembuwatta Lake Image Source: @diskdimuth from Instagram)

Trekking at the Beautiful Horton Plains

Horton Plains Trekking with Mahaweli Tours & Holidays

Did you know that this small island called Sri Lanka is full of great natural treasures? Even though it is a very small country, it is filled with numerous mountains, plains, waterfalls, rivers, and exciting nature adventures. With a tropical weather in most part of the island, it is easy to adapt to the weather and enjoy the tour. This tour is designed to accompany you with a guide to Horton Plains. You will be provided with a proficient guide who is fluent in English and thorough with local knowledge. We ensure that the guides are informative and supportive. Language specific guides can be arranged upon request too. The tour is carefully constructed to give you the best experience of Horton Plains.

 

Horton Plains: The beautiful heritage

Horton Plains National Park is located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is protected by the Department of Wildlife Conservation because the wildlife is very condensing in the area. The original name of the place is “Maha Eliya Thenna” which means “Great Open Plain.” Later the Plains were renamed after a British Governor. Sri Lanka has a lot of non-recorded history and people have come up with many folk stories regarding this place. Horton Plains are blessed with opulent flora and fauna and hikers and trekkers find this place quite amusing.

 

A must in the travel itinerary: Trekking at the Horton Plains

Are you up to seeing one of the most stunning places in Sri Lanka on a higher altitude? This is for you.

Wander across the cloud forests, green pastures and scattered pools while listening to nothing but the sounds of nature!

Your ears will be filled with the sound of birds chirping, water gushing, and fresh breeze sweeping across your face. For those for you who love trekking, why not inhale all the fresh experience that is in store for you!

The main attraction of the place is a drop called “The World’s End” from where you can see the farthest of Sri Lanka. You can see the most beautiful waterfall from top of the plains called The Baker’s Fall which runs from the very top of stony mountains down to the greeny valleys. The whole trekking experience will give you an adventurous thrill while soothing your tired self with cold breeze and perfect peace offered by nature. There is nothing more tranquil than receiving every ounce of nature’s fresh air and breeze from the trees while listening to buzzing bees.

 

Best of the Bests

This is the place for all candid photographers to capture as many memories as you want. The higher you climb, the better the view, the fresher the breeze, and more beautiful the feeling. Trekking at the Horton Plains has thus far become one of the favorite spots of backpackers, trekker, and globetrotters who love adventures. Our guides will guide you through this miraculous hike explaining the endemic species of trees and animals the place is blessed with. Come and see for yourself!

So, you can plan a horton plains trekking with us. Here are the details of the tour;

 

Horton Plains Trekking with Mahaweli Tours & Holidays

Possible Starting / Pick-up Locations :
Nuwaraeliya, Haputhale, Bandarawela, Ella, Ohiya, Kandy, Hatton  (You can let us know your exact location for us to check and confirm the possibility)

Duration : It will take around 4 – 6 hours to complete the tour depending on the weather condition and the desire of the travelers.

Tour Type : A private tour. Vehicle and the Guide / Chauffer guide are dedicated to you / your group. Safari tour will be done by an off road vehicle and traveling to the starting point and back will be done by Comfortable Car / Van / Mini coach

 

Read more about our other tours:

Hanthana Trekking

Ella City Tour

(Cover Image Credit: Evic Kushan)

Nine Arch Bridge in Demodara

Nine Arch Bridge in Demodara

Nine Arch Bridge in Demodara is one of the most famous travel destinations in Sri Lanka. Most of the travelers who come to the Ella region will not forget to visit this place. It’s an old bridge that was built in the British Era in Sri Lanka. The bridge is also called the “Bridge in the Sky’.

The Nine Arch Bridge is 300m in length and 80ft in height. There you can see nine spans. The width of the bridge is 25 ft and the elevation of the place is 3100 ft from sea level. This is located halfway between Ella and the Demodara Railway Station.to the Nine Arch Bridge from Demodara Railway Station is 9km and from Ella it is 4km. If you are starting from Ella town, you can easily hire a tuk tuk to reach this place. But you have to walk a few meters to meet the bridge.

The bridge connects two mountains and the Badulla–Colombo Railway. It was opened in 1921. This construction demonstrates the excellence of the architecture and engineering of the early 20th century. During the construction of this project, the First World War happened. It has affected the import of steel from abroad. The British rulers then decided to finish the project without using any steel or metal.The only materials used were stones, bricks, and cement.

P.K. Appuhami and D.J. Wimalasurendra are two Ceylonese who vastly helped to succeed in this project. Then they finished the work and opened the Nine Arch Bridge in 1921. Laterally, they finished the Colombo–Badulla Railway in 1924.

The Nine Arch Bridge in Demodara is normally crowded during holidays. The best time to go is between 9 and 11 a.m. in the morning.It’s an ideal place to take some beautiful photos. A few of the cafes are available in the area for visitors. The train journey between Colombo and Ella is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. So, you should not miss it.

Read More: Ella City Tour with Mahaweli Tours & Holidays

(Cover Image Credit:@choineczkaa from Instagram) 

Hike to the Knuckles mountain range

Knuckles-Hike

Possible Starting / Pick-up Locations :
Wasgamuwa, Polonnaruwa,Sigiriya, Dambulla, Mathale, Kandy, Mahiyanganaya, Pasikudah  (You can let us know your exact location for us to check and confirm the possibility)

Duration : Safari Tour will take around 3 ½ on average.

Tour Type : A private tour. Vehicle and the Guide / Chauffer guide are dedicated to you / your group. Safari tour will be done by an off road vehicle and traveling to the starting point and back will be done by Comfortable Car / Van / Mini coach.

This is a tour particularly designed for adventurous trekkers who come from all over the world. We will provide a guide for you who will communicate with you in English. If you require language specific guides, that can be arranged upon special request. We will provide our excellent guides who provide you with sufficient knowledge about the local area and give you instructions about the hike. They will be with you throughout, to help you go through the trails without missing out. This should be a must in your itinerary as it will show you the opulent nature of the country.

 

Knuckles Mountain Range: Location, weather, hike!

Dumbara Mountain range is another name for Knuckles mountain range. The range is located off Kandy and is surrounded by Mahaweli River on the South and East. The range has gotten the name ‘Knuckles Mountain Range’ is because it looks like knuckles of a clenched fist if looked at, from different parts of the city.

The range comprises of grasslands, lush greeny forests, and steeps that cover in waterfalls and streams. It is indeed a paradise for trekkers. The range is a conservation of World Heritage and there are still many places yet to explore. It is full of biodiversity and nature. Enthusiasts take up even a three to four day trek with the help of a guide to explore the beauty of this range.

There is a number of species of animals that are endemic to Sri Lanka. It is home to many mammals such as wild boar, deer, monkey and giant squirrel. 20 percent of the entire forest cover of Knuckles is endemic to Sri Lanka. It has gotten dry and wet pathana, savana, and evergreen forests. Because of the vast territory and forests, you will be provided a guide who will be with you the entire hike.

Knuckles is considered as one of UNESCO’s heritage sites and a beloved spot for trekkers. It is tried by locals and foreigners alike, mainly to explore the vegetation and animal kingdom.

What a wonderful experience as a hiker, to experience one of the largest ranges in Sri Lanka!

The beautiful waterfalls that you meet on the way are a quick refreshment of energy. There is also a mini ‘World’s End’ on one of the summits. There are more than 34 trails and each of them is different to the other. You will come across breathtaking views from if you take the trail from the south.

One of the best trails to take is Duwili Ella trail where this beautiful fall is hidden behind lush forests. The special feature of this is that it hides a cave behind it and allows travelers to get behind the waterfall to enter the cave. This is one of the most interesting things to do at Knuckles. For all of you, who are coming in anticipation and energy, save it all for this and you will not be disappointed.

 

1
…
5
6
7
8